Drop table apparatus



June 2, 1953 D. HOLMES ETAL} 6 DROP TABLE APPARATUS Filed 001;. 7, 19507 Sheets-Sheet 1 FlG.-l

INVENTORS Louis D. Holmes, and Roberr 8. Hammond ATTO L. D. HOLMES ETALJune 2, 1953 DROP TABLE APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1950FlG.-2

mmvrozz. LOUIS D. HOLMEg, AND ROBERT S. HAMNON BY ATTORNE June 2, 1953L. D. HOLMES ETAL DROP TABLE APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. '7,1950 INVENTORS LOUIS D. HOLMES AND ROBERT s, HAMMOND BY June 2, 1953Filed Oct. 7; 1950 L. D. HOLMES ET AL DROP TABLE APPARATUS FIG.4

7 Sheet -Sheet 4 INVENTORS Louis D. Holmes, and Robert 8. Hammond ATTOL. D. HOLMES ETAL DROP TABLE APPARATUS June 2, 1953 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Oct. 7, 1950 FIG,-

INVENTORS LOUIS D. HOLMES AND ROBERT S.HAMMOND BY ATTORNEY June 2, 1953L. D. HOLMES ETAL 2,640,436

. DROP TABLE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1950 Q '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ANVENTORSI LOUIS. o. HOLMES' A AND ROBERT s. HAMMOND ATTORNEY June 2, 1953 L. n.HOLMES ErAL DROP TABLE APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 7, 1950INVENTORS LOUIS D. HOLMES AND ROBERT S. HAMMOND AT TOR NEY Patented June2, 1953 DROP TABLE APPARATUS Louis D. Holmes, Blue Island, and Robert S.Hammond, Winnetka, 111., assignors to Whiting Corporation, a corporationof Illinois Application October 7, 1950, serin No. 189,004

This application is a continuation-in-part of our co-pendingapplication; Serial No. 138,678, filed January 14, 1950, and refers todrop table apparatus useful in maintaining running gear of railwayvehicles.

A drop table installation as utilized in railway shops conventionallyincludes a pit formed in the shop floor extending transversely across anumber of tracks. Rails are laid in the bottom of the pit for a droptable which includes a wheeled frame movable along the rails and liftingbeams or members which can be raised and lowered as desired. The pit isspanned by tops which support rails aligned with railway tracks,permitting vehicles to cross the pit when the top is in place.Frequently body support devices are associated with the apparatus forsupporting the body of a vehicle from which the trucks or wheels are tobe removed. When the trucks have been disconnected, the drop table ismoved into position immediately beneath the top upon which the truck issupported, the top released, usually by retracting locking bars, andlowered by the table. To return the trucks upon which maintenance is tobe performed to the level of the shop floor, the drop table and top aremoved laterally along the pit to the desired location and the liftingmembers of the drop table again actuated, bringing the top to tracklevel, thus permitting removal of the truck from thetop, which issubsequently returned to its previous position.

Thetrack upon which the trucks are moved from the top is known as therelease track and is spanned by a release track top. In our previousapplication we disclosed a release track to-p having four dependingmembers which could be engaged selectively by the lifting members of thedrop table apparatus, thus permitting the release track top to beelevated with the lifting members and allowing the service top to beraised to rail level without employing other apparatus to maneuver therelease track top,

14 Claims. (Cl. 10432 In our previously disclosed device, means were notprovided for selectively engaging and holding the release track top ineither its normal or its elevated position. Furthermore, since theposition of the lifting members on the drop table was utilized tocontrol whether or not the lifting members would engage the dependingposts of the release track top, a somewhat deeper pit was required thanwould normally be necessary.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide drop tableapparatuswhich will from a single lower position elevate a table topwith or without also elevating a release track top at the selection ofthe operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide drop table apparatuswhich may be operated in a relatively shallow pit, but which at the sametime is capable of elevating a release track top a distance greater thanthe maximum vertical travel of the lifting beams of the drop table.

A further important object of this invention is to provide means for usewith drop table apparatus for engaging or holding upright posts securedto a release track top in one or more predetermined positions.

Other objects of this invention reside in various novel combinations andsub-combinations of the component elements and which will be moreclearly defined in the following detailed description and in theappended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic elevation of a typical drop table installationin a railway shop;

Figure 2 is a partially broken-away perspective of a drop tableinstallation incorporating our invention;

Figure 3 is a partial perspective of a lifting post suitable for use inour structure.

Figure 4 is a partial elevation of a form of our invention employing arelease track top permanently secured to lifting posts;

Figure 5 is a partial detailed elevation of the locking apparatusemployed in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a partial detailed perspective of a releasable connectingdevice for coupling a release track top to the lifting posts;

Fi ure '7 is a partial detailed perspective view showing a modified formof connection between our lifting posts and the drop table;

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of a modified device forconnecting the drop table and lifting posts;

Figure 9 is a partial perspective of the device illustrated in Figure 8showing the rotatable lug in lowered position;

Figure 10 is a partial perspective of a modified form of lifting post;

Figure 11 is a partial perspective of a device suitable for engaging andholding the liftin post illustrated in Figure 10; 1

Figure 12 is a partial perspective of a device shown in Figure 11 butincorporating an additional contactor mechanism;

Figure 13 is a partial perspective of a mechani cal device suitable forengaging and holding the lifting post illustrated in Figure 10;

Figure 14 is a partial perspective view of our invention illustrating arelease track in partially lowered position on the drop table; and

Figure 15 is a partial perspective illustrating the disposition of atypical lifting post in a pit wall.

Referring to the drawings, we have illustrated in Fig. 1 a typical droptable installation for use in railway maintenance shops having a floorl0 which supports a plurality of tracks I I. A pit I2 extendstransversely across the tracks ill and is provided along its bottom withrails l3 along which a wheeled drop table 14 may be moved. The pit I2 isspanned by one or more service tops i6 and a release track top ll, thesetops usually being held in'position by retractable bars I8, which may bemoved laterally into engagement with the wall of the pit or othersuitable support members. r

Rails (19 are secured to the upper portion of the tops it and I! foralignment with the corresponding tracks H. Usually a body support device2! is associated with one or more of the service tops It to support thebody of a vehicle when disposed on the top NS for service, as forexample the removal and replacement of trucks. In some instances atunnelZZ havingtracks 23 is provided below floor level as a convenientstorage place for trucks, axle assemblies, and thelike.

Extending downwardly from the release track top H are four corner posts24, slidably supported in the walls of the pit |2=and engaging therelease track top I 1 in such manner that upward movement of the posts24' will elevate the top N. This is preferably accomplished byconnecting .the drop table apparatus M with the posts 24.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the posts 24 are preferably structuralH-beams having opposed parallel flanges 21 connected by a centrallydisposed web 28. To couple the drop table l4 to the posts 24, weprovide-arm engaging means on each of the posts 24, which as shown inFigure 3 may constitute an opening '29 formed in one of the flanges 2'!in a position to receive a retractable lifting arm'3l reciprocallymounted on a lifting beam 32 of the drop table apparatus 14. The

4 by thedrop table until the arms 48 are opposite the openings'29 in thepost/24 after which they are extended. Upward movement of the liftingbeams 32 then therefore raises the release track top ll, which iscoupled to the posts 24. The

arms 18, applied to either the release track top H or the service tracktop I6 may be actuated by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 30 carriedby the respective tops and coupled to the arms through a suitablemechanical linkage, indicated surface of the 1ugf43. The arm 31 is, ofcourse,

opening 29 and theli'fting arm 3! are positioned in such manner that thetwo elements are in registry when the lifting beams 32 of the drop tableI 4 are in lowered position.

To actuate the lifting arm 3!, we provide a crank 33 pivotally securedto the lifting member 32 and pivotally connected to the inner end of thearm'3l by a link 34. An arm 36 is fixed at one end to the crank 33 andpivoted at its opposite end to a piston rod 3?, which is in turn securedto a piston disposed in a double acting fluid cylinder 38 also pivotallysecured to the lifting member 32, as by a pin 39.

Conduits 4| connect each end of the cylinder 38 with a suitable sourceof fluidunder pressure for reciprocating the piston rods 31,conventional valves being provided in'the circuit to permit control ofthe operation by the drop table operator. Thus, as thepiston rod isdriven outwardly, the arm 3| will be retracted from engagement with thepost 24, the opposite action occurringwhen the rod 31 is moved inwardly.The exact configuration of the arm 3i is notcritical, but should beprovided with an upwardlyextending lip 32 at its outer extremity toprevent accidental disengagement withthe. lug. means 23.

.As indicated in Figures 2 and 6, the release track top H may be securedto the posts 24 by retractable arms 18, generally similar to 'thoseemployed in looking the. service track top in position. Lugs may, ifdesired, be secured to the lifting posts and project outwardly adistance sufiicient to engage a notch 26 formed in the projectingportionof the arm i8. Dis/engagement and subsequent release is obtained whenthe track top I? is first elevated-raising the top sufiicient todisengage the notch 26 from the lug 25 and thereafter retracting the barl8. It will be understood that the release track top may also .bepermanently engaged to the posts 24 as indicated in Figure 4. Sinceretractable arms [8 are conventional for all service track tops I6,these armsmay be employed for effecting a connection between the liftingpost 24 and the drop table mechanism M. The service track top It islowered by retracting the locking arms 18 after the top is positioned onthe drop table. The service track top It is then moved laterally in thepit retractable to clear the lug '43, thus permitting 'elev'ationof thelifting member 32-without rais* ing the posts 24 and the releasetracktop11.

As an alternative to the retractable lifting armslil, we mayprovidearetractable lug, gener ally designated 46, and illustrated in Figs. 8and 9. In such instances, a fixed, laterally projecting arm 4? ispermanently secured to liftingb'eam 32 and is disposed in such manner asto engage the lug 56 when the lug is in operative position. Preferably,the lug 46 includes a pair of inwardly extending members 548 welded toeach of the posts 24 and spaced apart'laterally a distance sufiicient topermit upward passage of the arm 47. A plate t9 fits between the members&8 and is secured at its inner end to a bar el pivotally mounted in themembers 48 in such manner that the plate 49 may be swung from asubstantially upright depending position to a substantially horizontalposition, in which it engages steps '52 secured to the member 48.Theinner end of the bar'5l is provided with an arm '53 movable in aplane parallel to that of the members 48. A shaft54 extends along thepit wall and'is provided at its ends with arms 56, which upon rotationof the shaft "54 engage the under surface of the arms 53, thereby movingthe plate member 49 upwardly into position against the stops 52.Movement of the shaft 54 in a reverse direction permits the plate-member$9 to fall by gravity to a retracted position. To actuate the shaft 54we provide a lever 57 secured at one end to the shaft 54 and pivoted atits other endto a fluid cylinder 58, solenoid, or the like, the latterbeing in turn pivotally secured to a member 59 on the pit wall.

Thus, when the release track top H is to be raised, the cylinder '38 isactuated, moving the plate or lug 49 to horizontal position in the pathof the arm 47. If the lug 49 remains lowered, however, the arm 41 willpass upwardly between the members '48 without engaging the plate 49.

.In certain instances it may be necessary to elevatethe release tracktop I! a distance greater than the maximum vertical travel of.thelifting beam 32. This may be accomplished by forming on each of theposts 24 a pair of vertically spaced lug means Bl. Openings 62 areformed in the web 28 of the beam .24 in predetermined locations and areutilized to lock the posts 24 in position. By utilizing this type ofpostythe retractable arms 3! on the drop table may. be

engaged with the upper of the lugs Bl when it is desired to elevate therelease track top H.

.Upward movement of the 'members 32 lifts the post '24 until lockingdevices engage one of the openings 62 on each of the posts. The tablemay be then lowered, moved laterally, and again lowered to is lowestposition, whereupon the lower of the lugs 6| may beengagedby the arms 3!on the beams 32. Thereafter the locking device extending through theopeningsGZ -may be released and the table top [1 again elevated,whereupon the locking device engages the other of the openings 62 andmaintains the release track top in elevated position above floor level.'The lugs 61 maybe retractable if desired and similar inform to'thelug'shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The devices for'holding the posts 24 in a predetermined position may beactuated either electrically with devices such as illustrated in Figs.

11 and l2,-or by fluid-pressuredevices, such as illustrated in Fig. 13;In Fig. 11 we have illustrated solenoid 63 having a plunger 64and'secured to the wall of the pit i2 in such position as to permit theplunger 64- to project through the openings 62. Preferably, the plungeris urged outwardly by aspring (not shown), and is withdrawn by actuationof the solenoid. The device shown in Fig. 12 is substantially similar tothat shown in Fig. 11- and includes a solenoid 63 and a' plunger 64. Inthisform, however, a .contact element 66 is secured to the pit wall andpositioned for engagement by the plunger when the latter is extended,thereby completing'a contact which may be utilized to indicate to theoperator that all looks are engaged; or if desired,

utilized to control relays which'will prevent actu- "ation of thelifting motors on thedrop table 14.

The device illustrated in Fig. 13 incorporates a retractable arm 61reciprocably supported on the pit wall, which when extended will passthrough the openings 62 inthe web 28 of the post 24, looking the postin-position. The inner end of the arm 6'! is connected by a link 68 to afluid cylinder 69, which is operable to recipro- 'cate the link 68 andarm 61. A lever H is pivoted on the pit wall and at its opposite ends tothe link 63 and another link'lZ, which connects with an arm similar tothe arm. 61, but disposed for engagement with the second of the posts24on the same pit wall in such manner that actuation of the cylinderwill extend or retract the locking arms simultaneously.

From the foregoing, it may be seen that we .have provided apparatuswhich fulfills the objectives of ourinvention fully and eihciently. It

is furthermore obvious that various of the component parts may be variedwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of our invention. Wetherefore do not limit ourselves to the exact details of thisdisclosure, except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim: I 1. In an apparatus for servicing running gear of railwayvehicles and the like of the type utilizing a drop table movable alongthe bottom for registry with the arm when the lifting beam is in itslowered position, one of said last mentioned means being retractable forselectively preventing lifting engagement of the arm member and the lugmember. 7

2. In an apparatus for servicing running gear of railway vehicles andthe like of the type utilizing a drop table movable along the bottom ofa pit extending transversely across railway tracks and spanned by topsincluding a release track top supported on four depending postsreciprocably mounted in the pit wall, said drop table having verticallymovable lifting beams for rais 'ing and lowering the tops, theimprovement which comprises means for connecting the lift- 'ing beamsand the posts, said-means comprising a plurality of lifting arms carriedby the lifting beams and supported for sliding movement in a generallyhorizontal plane for projecting the ends of the arms laterally beyondthe beams into engagement with said posts, whereby upward movement ofthe lifting beams elevates the posts and release track top. I

3. In an apparatus for servicing running gear of railway vehicles andthe like of the type utilizing a drop table movable alongthe' bottom ofa pit extending transversely across railway tracks and-spanned by topsincludi'ng'a release track top supportedon four dependingposts'reciprocably mounted in the pit wall, said droptable' havingvertically movable lifting beams for raising and lowering the tops, theimprovement which comprises means for connectingthe lifting beams 'andthe posts, said means comprising a plurality of lifting arms carried bythe lifting beams and supported for sliding movement'in a; generallyhorizontal plane for projecting the ends of the arms laterally beyondsaid beams, and. cooperating meanson each of the posts disposed forliftingen'gagement with the arms when the arms are extended while thelifting beams are in lowered'positi'on. 13 4. Inan apparatusfor'servicing running gear of railway vehicles and the like of the type'utilizing a; drop table movable along the bottom of a pit'extendingtransversely across railway tracks and s'panned'by tops including arelease track top supported on four depending posts reciprocablymountedin thepit wall,'said' drop table having vertically'movablelifting beams for raising and lowering the tops, the improvement whichcomprises lug means on each of the posts, arms carried by the liftingbeams for lifting engagement with the lug means, a lock for holding theposts 'in an elevated position, and means for retracting the lock forpermitting movement of the posts. I U

-5. In an apparatus for servicingrunning gear of railway vehicles andthe like of the type utilizing a drop table movable along the bottom ofa pit extending transversely across railway tracks and spanned; by topsincluding a releasetrack top' supported on four depending postsreciprooably mounted in the pit wall, said drop table 'havingverticallymovable'ligting beams for raising and lowering the tops, the improvementwhich comprises arm engaging means on each of the posts, arms carried bythe lifting beams for lifting'e'ngagemnt with said means, a lock forholding the posts in an elevated position including a retractable armfixed against vertical movement and adapted for extension through a:lateral opening in a post, and 'n'ieans for retractingthearm. .-In an:apparatusfor servicing 'running gear cgesaeac .of-railway vehiclesandthe like orthetype-utilizing-a drop table-movable along the-bottom'of:a pit-extending transversely across railway tracks and spanned by topsincluding ra release track top supported on four depending postsreciprocably mounted in the pit well, said drop table having verticallymovable lifting beams for raising and lowering the tops, the improvementwhich comprises arm engagingmeans on each of the .posts, arms carried.by the lifting beams for lifting engagement with the arm engagingmeans, a retractable arm on the pit wall for engagement with-anopeningin one'of the-posts When'said arm is extended, and aisolenoid 'forretracting the arm.

7. In an apparatus for servicingrunning gear of railway'vehicles and thelike of the type-utilizing a drop table movable along the-bottom='of apit extending transversely across railway tracks and spanned by topsincluding a-release'track'top supportedon four-depending postsreciprocably mounted in the pit wall, said drop'table having verticallymovable lifting beams for raising and lowering the tops, the improvementwhich comprises lug means on each of the postsarms carried by thelifting means for lifting-engagement with the lug beams,-aretractablear-m on the pit wall for engagement with an opening in one ofthe posts when said-arm is extended, and-a fluid cylinder. forretracting the arm.

8. In an apparatus for servicing running-gear of railway vehicles andthe like of the type utiliz= ing a drop table movablealong the bottom ofa pit extending transversely across railway tracks and spanned-by topsincluding a release track top supported on four depending postsreciprocably mounted in the pit wall, said'drop table having verticallymovable lifting beams for raising and lowering the tops, the improvementwhich -in*- cludes a plurality of laterally extendable arms reciprocallysecured on'the lifting beams, means for reciprocating the arms, and armengaging means on each of the posts for lifting engagement with the armswhen the beams'are in lowered position and the saidarms areaextended.

9. In an apparatus for servicing running-gear of railway vehiclesandthe-like of the type utilizing a drop table movable along the-bottom ofa pit extending transversely across railway tracks and spanned by topsincluding-a releasetrack top supported on four depending postsreciprocably mounted in the pit wall, said drop table havingverticallymovable lifting beams for raising and lowering the tops, theimprovement which includes a plurality of laterally extendable armsreciprocally secured on the lifting beams, means for reciprocating thearms, and engaging means on each of the posts for lifting engagementwith the arms when the beams arein lowered position and the said armsare extended, said engaging means including openings cut in-the posts.

10. In an apparatus for servicing running gear of railway vehicles andthe like of the type utiliz ing a drop table movable along the bottom ofa pit extending transversely across railway tracks and spanned by topsincluding arelease track top supported on four depending postsreciprocably mounted in the pit wall, said drop table having verticallymovable lifting beams forraising and lowering the tops, the improvementwhich in cludes a plurality of laterally extendable-arms reoirocall-ysecured on the lifting beams, means for reciprocating the arms, engagingmeans on each of the posts for lifting engagement with the arms when the.beams-arein lowered position and the said arms-areextended,.saidengaging means including openings cut in the posts,'andlocking means 'fixedon the pit wall for holding the posts in anelevated position.

11. In an apparatus for servicing runninggear of-railway vehicles andthe like of the-type utilizing a drop table movable along the bottomof-apit extending transversely across railway tracks and spanned by topsincluding a release track top supported on four depending postsreciprocably mounted in-the pit wall, said drop table having verticallymovable lifting beams for raising and lowering the tops, the improvementwhich comprises'a plurality of fixed rigid lifting arms carried by thelifting beams and projecting laterally towards the posts and aretractable lug on eachof the, posts, each of said lugs including amember movable into and out of the path of the corresponding liftingarm.

'12. In an apparatus for servicing running gear of railwayvehiclesandthe like of the type utilizing adrop table movable along thebottom of a pit extending transversely across railwaytracks and spannedby tops including a, release'track top supported onfour depending postsreciprocably mounted in the pit wall, said drop table having verticallymovable lifting beams for raising-and lowering the tops, the improvementwhich comprisesa plurality of fixed rigid lifting arms carried by thelifting beams and projecting laterally towards the posts, a retractablelug on each of the posts, each of said lugs including a member movableinto and out of thepath of thecor-responding lifting arm, and powermeans for actuating said lugs.

13. In an apparatus for .servicingrunning gear of railway vehicles andthe like of-the type utilizinga drop'table movable along the bottom of-apit "extending transversely across railwaytracks and spanned by topsincluding a release track top supported on four depending postsreciprocably mounted in'thepit'wall, said drop table having verticallymovable'lifting beams for raising and lowering the tops, the improvementwhich comprises a plurality of fixed rigid'liftin arms carried by thelifting beamsancl projecting laterally towards the posts, a retractablelug on each of-the posts, each of said lugs including a member movableinto and out of the path 'of'the corresponding lifting armand means forlocking each of the posts'in an elevated position.

1'4. In an apparatus for servicing running gear of railway vehicles andthe like of the type utilizinga drop'table movable along the bottom of ait extending'transversely across railway tracks andspannedbytopsincluding a releasetrack top supported on four dependingposts reciprocably mounted in the pit wall, said drop table havingvertically movable lifting beams for raising and lowering the tops, theim rovement which comprises a pair orvertically spaced lug means on eachof the posts, laterally extending arms reciprocally carried by thelifting beams for lifting engagementwith said lugs when extended, andmeans-for locking the postsin an elevated osition.

.LQUIS D. HOLMES. .RQBERT S. HAMMOND.

References'fllted in the file 01 this patent Number

